Page 28 of Storm of Shadows

“Then let us begin,” the voice booms and immediately a booklet and a pencil appears on the desk in front of me. “You have three hours to complete the questions in this booklet. There will be no talking.”

The man clicks his fingers and an hourglass timer the size of a horse appears, suspended in the air at the front of the Hall. It tips over and the grains of sand inside begin to seep through.

Tearing off another piece of roll from my pocket and popping it into my mouth, I print my name on the front of my booklet and then turn over the first page, running my eyes down the questions. It’s all logic questions – a mix of mathematical and lateral thinking. I twist the pencil around in my fingers and then tackle the first question.

Around me I can hear the scratch of hundreds of pencils, the occasional scrape of chair legs against the floor or a huff of agitated breath. I keep my head down and focused on the paper. I’m going to give these questions my best shot. Even though I know it will make no difference, that my fate is Slate Quarter no matter what. I’m still going to try. I know I’m smart enough to make it into Granite Quarter – even if I don’t trust the system and have no expectation at all that I’ll make it there when this year ends.

Several of the questions make my brain hurt and my vision multiply; some I don’t even attempt, but by the time that last grain of sand filters through the hourglass and a bell clangs loudly above our heads, I’ve tackled all the questions I can.

Before we’ve had a chance to lower our pencils, they vanish from our hands along with the booklets from our desks.

“You are dismissed until your next lesson tomorrow morning,” that mysterious voice booms.

All around me, students hurry to push back their chairs and climb to their feet, rushing for the door and freedom. I glance at Fly and without a word spoken, we agree to wait until the crush is over and everyone else is gone. I don’t want to bump into the Princes again or the murderous brunette or anyone else with murderous intentions for that matter.

“Did you not hear me,” the voice booms, “you’re dismissed!”

We both jump to our feet and as fast as we can – given I have an injured leg – hurry out of the Hall.

“Jeez,” I say once we’re outside again, “who was that? Was it the Headmaster?”

“I don’t think so,” Fly says, peering back over his shoulder. Behind us the candles have extinguished and the Hall is now a dark cavernous space. It’s creepy as hell. “The Head is known to be a recluse. He hardly ever shows his face. Madame Bardin pretty much runs the academy.”

“Then who was that?”

Fly shrugs. “If I had to hazard a guess, someone we don’t want to get on the wrong side of.”

Chapter Fourteen

Briony

I finish the rest of my cheese and ham rolls as we walk (or in my case hobble) back towards our rooms. The bread is a little stale, the cheese bland and the ham hard, but stars, it tastes so good I can’t help making little moaning noises as I chew.

“That really is pretty pornographic, you know,” Fly says, eyes flicking towards me. “If you’re trying to seduce me it isn’t going to work. Firstly, because I don’t want to have my skull smashed in by the Princes.” I scoff at that. “And secondly, you’re not my type, Cupcake.”

“What is your type?” I ask out of curiosity.

“Hmmm, I’m not really that fussed, just as long as he’s smart, handsome, built like a brick house and has a large–”

“I get the picture.”

He chuckles. “You don’t like big dicks?” he asks me. I roll my eyes. “What is your type then? Do you prefer girls?”

“I don’t know. For the last few years, I haven’t liked anyone at all really.”

“No hotties back in Slate Quarter then?”

I don’t answer that. I’m sure he’d consider Stanley to be a catch. He also turned out to be a backstabbing bully.

Fly examines my face. “It would be hard not to be into at least one of the Princes.”

“Humph,” I reply.

“You have to admit they’re hot.”

“I don’t have to admit anything.”

“I’m going to take it that you do. You’d have to have seriously unusual taste to find them unattractive. They’re probably the best looking boys at the academy – trust me, I’ve been checking.”